Parenting, Working, and Not Working

I am more thankful than usual that it is a Friday, this week has been nothing but an uphill struggle.

First of all, there was/is the dark, dank weather, the howling wind, and the general feeling that Dementors are floating about in my neighborhood.
Then, seeing as it is Springtime (can you sense my sarcasm?), my nine year old has been sent home twice in one week with red, swollen eyes,a scratchy throat, and the need to ask questions every 30 seconds. Really, Spring? You were supposed to be my favorite season. A season of hope, warmth and optimism. We are done, I’m sticking my tongue out at you.

Also, for some reason, my laptop has gone mysteriously missing (I’m wondering whether to blame the kids or the Dementors). Too many interruptions to my work-flow, bye bye productivity.

I could write a post about work-flow, what it is, and how to get back into it; but I have to pick up my kids from the bus stop soon, so that will have to wait until next week. See what I mean? Absolutely no time to achieve a flow.

Instead, here is what I have managed to achieve this week:

I printed, ironed and sewed a batch of 3-6 months onesies in softer colors, after realizing that I had completely and stupidly forgotten to print that size altogether during my big printing session!

I made an inventory spreadsheet, so that I don’t make as many stupid mistakes the next time I print.

I ate a lot of chocolate to ward off the Dementors, seeing as I can’t produce a fully formed Patronus charm. In the interests of full disclosure, I also ate Sriracha potato chips, and my five year old’s alphabet cookies, it’s been that sort of week.

I worked on my curriculum for the Summer camps, while also researching projects on Pop Art for a local elementary school’s fundraiser night. This led to me getting a bit carried away on Pinterest, and forming fully fledged obsessions with Yayoi Kusama, and medieval jewelry, oh dear.

I drew in my sketchbook for two evenings, even though I promised myself to draw every evening. I did, however, convince my five year old to sleep in his own bed every single night. Score!

Books: I got half way through Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, and a chapter of The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, when I should have been sleeping, and listened to two thirds of The Half Blood Prince in my car. Consequently, my mind is a big, hot mess of fantasy and I’ve been having some fairly disturbing nightmares.

The nine year old and I discovered nail polish that looks like sprinkles, and devoted way too much time to it.

I have been drawing on mugs with Sharpies because it is fun. I’m trying to convince myself that it is research. I would like, at some point in the future, to start putting designs on ceramics, so maybe I wasn’t just frittering away time.

I have been playing at graphic designer, and ordered some new business cards, stickers, and tags for the Spring shows.

I went to the library to return some books, so I wouldn’t have to pay any fines, and got sucked into a book fair for an hour (I didn’t know about it, I swear!) when I should have been working.

I spent an inordinate amount of time applying compresses to the nine year old’s eyes, putting drops in them, listening to her woes and, of course, feeding her woes. Apparently, the best thing for feeding woes, is grilled cheese.

My children are fed and well (apart from the red, swollen eyes), and I beat them at Just Dance last night (every little victory counts).

Sigh… hello weekend, please try not to bring snow. Next week is a fresh start, with hopefully more flow to it.